Decomposition

Decomposition

Decomposition is the breakdown of substances into smaller substances, carried out by bacteria and fungi.
Increasing temperature, oxygen and water availability increases the rate of decay of biological material as bacteria and fungi grow faster.
The rate change in the decay of biological material is equal to the change in value divided by time.
Gardeners and farmers try to provide optimum conditions (e.g. neutral pH) for rapid decay of waste biological material to produce compost.
Compost is used as a natural fertiliser.
Anaerobic decay produces methane gas, which can be carried out in a biogas generator to produce fuel.

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